Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (Jas 4:14).1
James was addressing individuals who were living carelessly. They had business plans to “buy and sell, and get gain” (v13). The issue dealt with isn’t so much that plans were made, but that they boasted of their plans, leaving the Lord out of the picture altogether. It reminds us of the proverb written by Solomon, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Pro 27:1).
In such a setting, James reminds us of a vital question. He asks, “What is your life?” Then he mentions a vanishing existence. He states that our life “is a vapour, that … vanisheth away.” Finally, there is a valued opportunity. James says that life “appeareth for a little time.” We must ask ourselves, “Am I ready for eternity?”
The Uncertainty of Life
One of the great realities of life is the fact that it is so uncertain. We are all planners to some degree. Sometimes those plans are for the day before us, the week ahead, or even in the year to come, but none of us is guaranteed our next breath. Accidents happen, illnesses strike, disasters come, and unexpectedly so. While life is so uncertain, death isn’t. The Bible reminds us that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27). That is an appointment we will not miss, and it will seal our eternal destiny, either in heaven or in hell.
The Brevity of Life
Throughout the Word of God, many metaphors are used to describe the brevity of life. James compares it here to “a vapour.” Many of us have seen the steam rise from the kettle as the water boiled. We stood and watched as the vapour ascended, and very quickly vanished out of sight. That is the picture James is giving us. Our lives are so short; we are here for a moment and then gone forever.
The Tragedy of Life
To leave our short scene of time unprepared for the never-ending eternity is indeed the greatest tragedy. The Saviour told of a man in Luke 12 who tore down his barns to build greater, but like those in James 4, he left God out of his plans. He was preparing for time but not for eternity. God said to that man, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Luk 12:20). What of your plans? Have you prepared to meet God?
The Opportunity of Life
This life of ours “that appeareth for a little time” is filled with opportunities, but the greatest of these is to know Christ. For through knowing Him comes the forgiveness of sins. He dealt with our sins, when on the cross “Christ died for our sins” (1Co 15:3), and God raised Him from the dead. Any repentant sinner who trusts in Him as their Saviour receives the forgiveness of sins and is fitted for heaven. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Co 6:2).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
